History records that Anguillians are a resilient people who have survived every untoward situation and were able to move ahead successfully with an enduring sense of purpose and direction. It is this characteristic that is buoying our spirit and determination in these times when our island and people are so heavily burdened and perplexed.
Anguilla has what may be referred to as a heavy agenda of burden with few windows of opportunities for relief and, for many, the temptation is strong to surrender hope and yield to economic and social despair. A question to ask, though, is how much are we unnecessarily burdening ourselves? The answer may not be all that clear if, for instance, the island’s people and leadership are divided on such matters as the pros and cons of an issue like independence. There are those, for example, who believe that independence will be the immediate answer to most, if not all, of our present economic and financial woes. There are others who fear that this is not an opportune time to pursue that responsible status – and that there are too many hurdles to cross especially for an unprepared people.
For most people, perhaps, the immediate problems of a virtually dead economy, gross unemployment, taxation, the high cost of living, poverty and starvation, are more urgent matters to address than independence. But those who clamour for this status may argue, as they do, that it is a way of escape from British domination and hardship, for an emerging island and people.Be that as it may, it appears that never before, since its 1967 Revolution, has Anguilla found itself in such a pathetic state of economic and financial misery. It is difficult to understand the plight that has overtaken a once booming island, now severely impacted by the global recession.
The agenda of burden in Anguilla, confronting Government and the citizenry, includes the dismal state of the finances of the public and private sectors; the need to have Malliouhana Hotel and Cap Juluca refurbished, reopened and operating successfully; the need for the golf course project to resume construction; the need for a string of other projects, with useless MOU’s, to come to fruition and for the large number of Anguillians to be at work.
It is a matter of some relief that two of our major resorts are now reopening after the customary break: Viceroy late this week, to be followed by CuisinArt next week. Between the two properties just under 1,000 employees, provided there is an active 2012/2013 season, will be actively engaged in the job market. It is hoped that it would not be long after that Maliouhana and Cap Juluca, once world-class resorts, would be back in operation. With the re-opening of the hotels will come the resumption of business by a number of villas, restaurants and other services which are dependent on. When these re-openings occur, there will be springtime again and relief in the economy.
Yes, these are challenging times in Anguilla, but every effort must be made to turn around the economic and fiscal situation of the island as quickly as possible. One of the problems confronting Anguillais the growing number of school leavers, many of whom have gained outstanding subject passes, but there is little or no possibility of them finding suitable employment – worse still, the opportunity to obtain scholarships or other funding to further their education. This is rather disappointing when considering the many students who, a few years ago, were able to study abroad, with some ease and assistance, and to qualify in various fields of learning. We must not fail our youth who are in fact the future of Anguilla.
We must also do everything in our power to live by our wits and to relieve ourselves, as much as possible, of the heavy agenda of burden plaguing our island and people. Government has a leadership responsibility to ensure this, and everyone else must join in seeking to find solutions, and in giving priority where it is most needed. Perhaps a move to forgo the haste of independence at this juncture in our economic and fiscal calamity, and concentrate on other demanding real life issues, may be something to consider. Certainly, with three troubled constitutional reform attempts, it may be a signal for us to back off for the time being, and turn our attention to other more pressing matters until the time is really ripe for status change.
